An intra-divisional trade is set to provide Jahan Dotson with a change of scenery. The former first-round receiver is being dealt from the Commanders to the Eagles, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The deal has now been confirmed by the teams. 
Here are the full trade terms, with details from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network:
Eagles receive:
- Dotson
- 2025 fifth-round pick
Commanders receive:
- The higher of Philadelphia’s two 2025 third-round selections
- The lowest two of Philadelphia’s four 2025 seventh-round picks
Dotson entered the league with high expectations as a deep threat. The Penn State alum averaged 15 yards per catch in college and racked up 20 receiving touchdowns across his final two campaigns with the school. During his first two seasons with Washington, he served as a full-time starter and received 144 total targets. Dotson has struggled with consistency, recording a catch percentage of just 58.3%.
The 24-year-old posted 523 and 518 yards in his Commanders campaigns, although he totaled 11 touchdowns in that span. Despite having two years left on his rookie contract (with the potential for another via the fifth-year option), the Commanders are electing to move on. Of course, the organization’s power brokers (owner Josh Harris, general manager Adam Peters, head coach Dan Quinn) are not the ones who were in place when Dotson was drafted.
Washington has Terry McLaurin comfortably atop the receiver depth, and the Pro Bowler is on the books for the next two years. Questions have been raised about who will take on the other starting spots in 2024, however, and Dotson’s heavy usage in the first week of the preseason suggested the Commanders would be open to dealing him. Trade interest picked up in recent days, Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post confirms. The team will now move forward with an ongoing WR2 competition while newly-signed veteran Martavis Bryant aims to earn a 53-man roster spot.
For Dotson, a spot in the top two of the wideout pecking order is not attainable. The Eagles have A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith attached to new deals worked out this offseason; Brown sits second in receiver AAV while Smith is currently ninth. The No. 3 role has been up for grabs during the offseason, though, and Dotson will have the chance to earn it during the final weeks before Week 1.
Philadelphia’s search for depth included the addition of Parris Campbell and John Ross. Both players’ skillsets profile them as a potential deep threat, so Dotson (who has averaged 12.3 yards per catch in the NFL) will have competition from those two, along with the likes of rookies Johnny Wilson and Ainias Smith. The winner of the WR3 competition will also have to deal with tight end Dallas Goedert and running back Saquon Barkley while looking for targets, of course.
A decision on Dotson’s fifth-year option will need to be made after this coming season. How he performs with his new team will dictate his financial future, and it will be interesting to see how he fits in with Philadelphia. The Commanders, meanwhile, will turn their attention further to receiver options added by the new regime.
WOW. I’m not the biggest believer in Dotson, but that sure is selling low. Certainly a worthwhile flier for Philly at that price.
OOOOF–That’s the first thing I said when I saw this. He must be Chase Claypool bad for that.
The dude has underachieved, but Washington is trying to break in a brand new QB – so this is truly a WTH? move.
The in-division part makes no sense. Surely there was somebody in the AFC that would have matched this package.
Buffalo!
Where were you Beane!
It’s kind of funny that it seems like now that they’ve gotten rid of his college quarterback, they’re finally going to give Dyami Brown a real shot.
He had Wentz and Howell as QBs in a tough division. I’m amazed he managed 11 TDs
McLaurin still managed just fine.
WR1 compared to WR2. Interesting
I’m just saying. I get that Dotson has had a rocky QB situation, but he still hasn’t been very good.
Good in what sense? How many drops did he have? How many chances to succeed did he get and he still posted 11 TDs
How often did he get open? The Commanders passed the ball more than anyone in football last year. Someone was bound to catch some touchdowns.
What about QB play? Howell also led the league in interceptions and what schemes were coaches placing together? McLaurin disappeared last year too. There’s so many factors to a WR success
McLaurin disappeared? Have you looked at his stat line? After two straight seasons of 77 receptions, he had 79 receptions while posting his fourth straight thousand yard season.
Terry def hasn’t disappeared so that’s weird to say. I think his best role is low end #1 high end #2 but far from inconsistent.
He had a quiet year is what I meant
I wanted the Steelers to go get him in the worst way. Damn.
They’re too busy trying to spend $30+ and high draft capital for a player that’s only marginally better than Dotson.
Imagine being so committed to trash talking that you find yourself pretending Aiyuk is only marginally better than Dotson.
Imagine being so into yourself you can’t realize that Aiyuk was on one of the most offensive friendly teams in the NFL for his career while Dotson has been spending his time with Carson Wentz, Sam Howell, Tyler Heinecke, and Jacoby Brissett in one of the worst football organizations of a generation….
Ignoring that would almost seem foolish….
Well gee. If you figured that out I’m sure the Commanders decision makers took that into consideration when they decided he was basically worthless for that return. The fact that they didn’t even want him around Daniels speaks volumes. The guys in charge now didn’t draft him so they don’t care. But if they put him out there and this is the best they could do again speaks volumes about how the League views him.
I’ve never once read anything bad about Dotson’s character. That being said, I also haven’t searched. Has he done something in the past that shows he can’t get along with the rookie QB? Is there any article that says him and Daniels had a rift they couldn’t get past? Or is this just an assumption on his character?
Considering that Keenan Allen fetched a 4th, Diontae Johnson fetched a backup CB, Diggs only got a 2nd, and Jeudy fetched a 5&6 I’d say Washington got a decent return for a guy who wasn’t in their plans…
I think it has more to do with his ability than his character. I’ve never heard anything bad about him, But like you I haven’t looked. Sometimes a guy just needs a change of scenery.
Aiyuk was the number one target on a stacked team. It’s not like Shanahan offenses have coasted on elevating slouches at X receiver. It was also the lowest volume passing attack in the NFL and Aiyuk nearly outproduced two years of Dotson in one season.
He’s the number one target with a top 5 TE, the top RB, and another top paid top talent WR and a talented QB. We are not comparing like situations here.
Aiyuk should have had more production… One he’s in a way better offense with 5 more weapons to take any pressure off, as I’ve already stated. Two, Aiyuk had 30 more targets. 3, he’s making considerably less money which I pointed out to being a factor while not that much drop off in TALENT.
Like I’ve previously stated, put Dotson in SF and there’s a very little drop off from Aiyuk. SF was a lower volume passing team because they were up every game and aren’t a lousy team…. They have the ability to run the ball where Howell was throwing 60 times a game….
If you think it’s a better value by trading 2 high end picks, a player, and signing him to a long term high money deal is a better VALUE (the whole basis of my point, not what player is better considering I never claimed Dotson was better) than the Dotson trade so be it. But just be aware you’re blatantly wrong.
Has it occurred to you that Aiyuk got more targets because he actually gets open? And I’m not talking about trade packages, I’m talking about the claim that Aiyuk is only marginally better than Dotson, which is nonsense.
Has it occurred that a top 3 offense was scripted in a better way to get receivers open than the 25th ranked scoring offense? I know you follow a lot of Steelers stuff. Everyone claims Canada had a ‘high school offense that doesn’t get anyone open.’ I guess he’s the only NFL OC capable of that.
Dotson is only marginally worse than Aiyuk, yes, when you’re talking about giving up 2 high end picks, a player, AND signing him. I mean that’s literally what I’ve claimed since the beginning. When comparing the situations you’re only getting a marginally better option. Why pay a guy $30M, give up high end picks for a team in no mans land constantly, and give up a player whenever you got 2 loser QBs to throw to him? Just give up the 3rd and take the guy who’s cheap AND better than 6/7 WR on the roster. It’s not like the Steelers (team in OP) have an abundance of options. Dotson would literally be WR2 the second it went through.
You’re such a homer with Aiyuk. Give it up buddy, you’re the only person on the planet who thinks Aiyuk is all that great. Honestly I think Dotson is already better but has been in a worse situation.
Tough to go that far. Dotson’s good but Aiyuk is still better
I’m not a 49ers fan and I’m not a homer for Aiyuk. I think he’s a number one receiver because he’s shown it on the field. The idea that Dotson is already better than him is unhinged. Seems like maybe you’re too much of a homer for someone else.
Auiyuk>>>>>>>>>>>>Dotson
Your comment is self mute worthy. Dotsons 5th year option is will he beat out Paris Campbell while Aiyuk is choosing which team gets to pay him 30 million. With that being said I bleed green and hope this kid steps up as another Howie steal.
Murf. He’s nearly exceeded Campbell’s career yardage on 30+ less catches and 3 less seasons. You’ve missed the whole point, but as what seems to be a Philly fan I wasn’t expecting much intelligent conversation from you so…
The Eagles are clearly not happy with their WR3 position. Dotson should help a lot. This is a good move at low cost.
Very low. They can see what he does for 3 more years on his rookie deal including a tag and he costs them a bag of chips and a candy bar. Eagles GM is a genius
I have to laugh when a GM says “I’ll give up pick 255 but no way are you getting pick 247 from me”. Howie has had himself a very good offseason…but let’s not get carried away with the “genius” stuff.
His track record as a GM is very exceptional though. Give credit where it’s due. Look at the eagles roster for a few minutes. That’s all him. So much depth and talent
The Bills could not get in here?
Why does Washington hate Jayden Daniels already? Seems like you’d want to keep as many weapons as possible for your rookie qb who you deemed the starter.
I’d get this trade if he was gonna red shirt the year acquire some future draft capital but not if he’s starting
Hahaha Steelers are idiots.
I just read this on nfl website and I laughed out of surpise. I know it’s a new regime but a third year first round WR traded to a rival team took me off guard. This is very interesting and he could probably easily win the WR3 role behind AJ & Devonta
Why do people think Washington could have gotten a similar or better deal from another team? The only reason you trade a player to your in-division rival is because they are offering the most by a decent margin.
Yes Howie gave them the better of his 2 third round picks. Harris helps his hometown Eagles is ok by me.
I don’t like this trade, especially in the division. But the Commies wanted to bench Dotson this year. He’s not a big body blocking wide receiver. For the run attack, that’s what’s planned.
Dyami Brown is 15lbs heavier. Unfortunately Dyami Brown appears to have hands of stone, whereas Dotson was definitely in polite territory (15 yards/catch, just sub 60% catch ratio).
If Dotson was going to sit, his price tag was not going to go up. Better to get something than nothing. Hope injuries don’t the Commies/Redskins WR room though.
Likely a combo of new regime selling now while they can get a decent return and the fact that a 1st round WR still hasn’t secured the #2 spot going into his 3rd year.
Terrible trade and as always Howie makes out like a bandit. He is always taking advantage of new guys and dead in the water GM’s.
There is more to come with this trade. Either WASH is going after someone like Aiyuk or another WR. You don’t break in a new QB in your system by shipping out his weapons. This one is truly hard to understand?
According to a Washington beat reporter Dotson wasn’t getting with the program. So rather than have someone out of step they shipped him out. It wasn’t about talent. It was about having the right guys for the program.
Would’ve loved to see the Lions maybe jump in here and bring in Dotson to join up with St. Brown, JaMo, LaPorta, Gibbs etc